KAFS Newsletter: No.5. The Kent Archaeological Field School: Winter-Spring 2008 Heard about the Roman baths at Blacklands? elcome in 2008 to the Anglo-Saxon gilt cruciform brooch. At Blacklands 10th anniversary of the Roman site an earlier geophysical survey by WKent Archaeological English Heritage had identified at least 19 Roman Field School! Yet again an buildings focused around a large depression in amazing year with some important the hillside. It seems the depression was modelled investigations of stunning sites. At in the 4th century with terraces cut into the chalk. Easter we followed up investigations begun in The exotic bath house overlooking this feature 1926 when it was thought that the Roman has the remains of some of the finest full colour cemetery of the Roman town at Syndale was pictorial mosaics found so far in Kent, and a huge located in the Park- it was! The surprise was that timber building had been built on the demolished we found Roman cremation pots scratched with ruins in the 6/7th centuries. Christian symbols and buried with an early Do join us in 2008 for more superb courses. Phil Harding of Time Team and Paul Wilkinson of the Kent Archaeological Field School at Syndale in 2003. Time-Teams investigation led to some wonderful opportunities, of which one was a comprehensive geophysical survey of the Park. Building on this work the Field School has discovered the extent of the Kent Archaeological Field School Roman town, probably called School Farm Oast, Graveney Road, ‘Durolevum’, and this work Faversham, Kent, ME13 8UP continues at Easter 2008. Director: Dr Paul Wilkinson MIFA. Winter 2008 F IELD S CHOOL N EWS “A very useful basic introduction to archaeology” Mick Aston This new book on archaeology by Paul Wilkinson has been extremely well received by archaeologists. "I wish this book had been available when I started out in archaeology back in the 1960s. It tells you everything you need to know in order to decide what sort of archaeology you'd like to learn more about. It doesn't just deal with digging; instead it introduces you to aerial photography, geophysics, surveying, recording, finds processing, soil science and how to take samples - in fact all the subjects you'll need to master if you want to become a field archaeologist. It's well written and beautifully illustrated in full colour throughout. It would be cheap at twice the price!" Francis Pryor David Rudling of Sussex University says: “A well illustrated and useful introduction to practical archaeology for beginners and those with some experience. User friendly, and at a sensible price”. Order form for books If you want a signed copy please put the Peter Drewett, Professor of Archaeology comments: name at the bottom of the coupon. “A splendid introduction which should be very Your Name............................................................. popular with first time diggers”. Address................................................................... .................................................................................. Customers have said: “there is nothing like this”, .................................................................................. “really useful”, and “what an informative book at E-mail.................................................................. such a good price”. I enclose a cheque (payable to KAFS) for....... signed copies of Archaeology......Pompeii....... New books by Paul Wilkinson, the director of the BAR Port of Faversham........................................ Field School, will be available this winter from KAFS; Pompeii (£10), Faversham (£25), and Name in recently published is Archaeology (£10.95). book..................................................................... All are signed and include post and packaging. 2 E ASTER E XCAVATION For the last 200 years Anglo- Saxon brooches of gold (left) have been found throughout Kent. It is thought they could all have been made in the Roman/Anglo-Saxon town of Faversham. The name (Fabre- ham) suggests it is the Anglo- Saxon town (ham) of the Roman metalsmiths (fabri) and as a place-name is unique in Britain. ur Easter investigation in 2008 is going year he dug on the east slope inside Syndale to continue our work on the limits of Park and recorded “a long trench was dug at G, Othe Roman town situated in Syndale and two others at H, the main object of the latter Park just to the east of Faversham. Last Easter being to prove the existence of the original we followed up the ‘route map’ of Colonel Watling Street on the line indicated. A rubbish Hawley who in September 1922 dug 23 holes pit was found at H containing potsherds, pieces and trenches on top of the hill opposite of burnt wattle and daub, and many animal Syndale Park finding some burials. The same bones; a coin of Commodus was the most important item”. By the time Hawley had finished work in Syndale he had excavated 172 cremations, 74 burials and recovered about 500 pots. We now have the opportunity to continue his work, by plotting the grave groups (above right) and mausoleums (below left) by ground- penetrating radar and focused investigation. Other important features will also be investigated and these include a deep defensive ditch full of late Roman items. Easter Excavation Booking Form Easter 2008, March 21st to 30th. Winter Special price is £20 a day for members (£30 a day for non-members: To join see back The Roman mausoleum revealed is a sarcophagus cover or www.kafs.co.uk) (above) was first discovered with a ceramic lid made out Your Name........................................................... by Hawley in 1925. He of shaped terracotta tiles. Address.................................................................. noted “a paved hearth and The monument is late, ................................................................................. wall foundations”. The plan having been built over the ............................................................................... that Hawley drew was used remains of a 3rd century ................................................................................ to re-locate the site which on kiln. The tiles have been E-mail..................................................................... investigation turned out to damaged sometime in the Tel No.................................................................... be more than a paved hearth past, but the grave has not and wall foundations. been robbed- the burial is I enclose a cheque (payable to KAFS) The stone monument still in situ. for........................................................................... 3 Summer 2007 F IELD S CHOOL N EWS Investigations at Blacklands, Faversham In August archaeological students and members of the Field School descended on School Farm, just to the east of Faversham, and adjacent to Bath-house Watling Street, to investigate the probable site of a Roman settlement found by field-walking, limited Large terraced Bath-house feature cut into with full- excavation and geophysical survey. chalk colour Paul Wilkinson had discovered the site by field mosaics walking some years before and had excavated a Probable small area with Brian Philp in 1997. Later English large temple complex Heritage had generously offered to conduct a geophysical survey with stunning results (right). 30 metres The initial investigations had revealed the remains of a Roman bath house with mosaic fragments The geophysical survey by English Heritage (above) shows a plethora of features. The black lines were conjectural walls, some of which has now been shown to be Roman foundation walls. The Roman bath-house (left) has a hypocaust system built of chalk blocks which were full of demolished parts of the building including mosaic fragments and painted plaster. and highly decorated painted plaster, It was thought that this was the only Roman building on the site- one of the so-called ‘isolated bath-houses’ found only in Kent (Detsicas 1987). With the later English Heritage survey a further 18 buildings were revealed, albeit electronically. Investigation in the summer of 2007 exposed a huge Roman building further to the west of the known bath house, again with hypocaust heating with Mosaic fragments retrieved The mosaic pavement covered terracotta pilae still standing, and vast quantities from the demolition debris of an area of about seven square of everyday painted plaster and pottery. the hypocaust flues are metres. It was full colour and The depression was also investigated and found exceptionally fine. Informed pictorial with individual to be Roman and in use in the 4th century- its opinion is that they are the tessarae sometimes smaller function still an enigma waiting to be solved. most important found in Kent. than one centimetre. 4 ‘NO FRILLS’ TRIPS Field School trips for 2008 include Pompeii, Split, Bath, and Hadrian’s Wall An exciting new development is study tours offered exclusively to members of the Field School. These ‘bare bones’ trips with no frills include a long weekend in Pompeii at a price of £199, Diocletians Palace at Split for £199, Roman Bath weekend, and a weekend on Hadrian’s Wall for £99. All you have to do is book the flight and hotel (as low as £20 for the flight) and meals.You will see all of the main sites with a specialist guide and Dr Paul Wilkinson. To Book: send the full amount to KAFS by end of February 2008. May 3rd, 4th, 2008. September 26th to 29th, 2008 Hadrian’s Wall Diocletians Palace at Split, Croatia An exciting trip to the The